Page 128 of Perfect Happiness

When she finally sat down, she explained her choice in champagne—how the name Belle Époque meant “beautiful times,” how the champagne made a perfect “aperitif” because it was light-bodied and had gentle but consistent bubbling and peach overtones.To Eun-ho, as someone who knew nothing about champagne, he had no idea what her explanation meant, nor did he care.

“As this is our first family vacation, we should celebrate.”Wife smiled as she looked at Eun-ho.“Honey, would you pour the champagne?”

Her tone smelled sickly-sweet, like overripe peaches.Eun-ho uncorked the bottle of champagne and poured two glasses.Considering the fact this was a fresh bottle, maybe that meant it was safe to drink.As he did this, Wife poured Jiyoo a glass of orange juice.

“A toast?”Yuna said as she held up her glass.“To our beautiful, first trip together.”

Both Eun-ho and Jiyoo lifted their own glasses.

“Actually,” Wife said suddenly as she got up.“Don’t move.”

Jiyoo and Eun-ho meekly put down their glasses.Wife bent over and brought her phone out from under the kitchen table.

“We should take a commemorative picture.”

Wife took several steps backward until she reached the kitchen sink.

“Honey, put your head against Jiyoo’s like you mean it.Cheese.”

Jiyoo glanced sideways at Eun-ho as he tilted his head toward her.It wasn’t that hard to touch heads.The problem was saying cheese.Eun-ho’s mouth spasmed, and a chill spread throughout his back.He realized that he, too, was now on the Yuna Shin Express bound for hell.

“Jiyoo, what are you doing?Look this way and say cheese.”

Wife raised one hand in the air and curled her finger.Jiyoo turned to look forward.There was clear worry on her face.She tried harder to say cheese, but the corners of her lips merely contorted in pain.Her eyes looked like she was on the verge of crying.Wife counted slowly:

“One ...two ...”

The flash on her camera burst with a click.Wife walked back to the kitchen table as she checked the picture.

“It turned out great.Do you want to see?”

Eun-ho took the phone as Wife handed it to him.The moment he saw the screen, he was reminded of another picture that had been taken in this exact location.A man and child with their heads touching, two dark doors open behind them, roses and scented candles on the table, a bottle of champagne.The setting and structure of the two pictures matched perfectly.The only thing that had changed was the man sitting next to Jiyoo.Eun-ho returned the phone to Wife.

“Looks great.Send it to me.I’ll save it to my phone.”

“Later.Now is the time to enjoy our meal.”

Wife turned off her phone and put it face down on the table.Lifting her glass, she proposed a toast.

“This time for real.To our happiness.”

Eun-ho clinked glasses with Wife.He chugged the champagne in hopes that it would calm his nerves.As he waited and imagined what was coming next, Eun-ho wondered where the peach overtones she’d been raving about were.

“How were the wetlands?”Wife asked as she put down the glass.

“I’m not sure.There was nothing out there.Jiyoo says there are usually lots of ducks.”

Jiyoo flinched and turned to look at Eun-ho.Her eyes were asking,When did I say that?It appeared Eun-ho had made a slip of the tongue.

“The ducks will come back in the spring,” Wife mumbled to herself as she spooned some goulash into her mouth.

Eun-ho didn’t touch his goulash.If Wife wanted to give him something special, it would be in the goulash.He had voluntarily walked up to the guillotine, but he had no intention of lying down and sticking his neck out, too.He picked up a piece of bread and spread peanut butter on it.He didn’t particularly like peanut butter, but he had no other choice.Jiyoo had already taken the small amount of jam that was on the table.

Wife’s gaze was fixed on his hand as it spread the peanut butter.Her elated mood from just a moment earlier had disappeared without a trace.Cast across her face was the shadow that always appeared when she was upset and feeling down.

“Has the Half Moon Marsh frozen over?”Wife asked out of nowhere.

Eun-ho nodded.